Coencapsulation of Target Effector Cells with Mesenchymal Stem Cells Reduces Pericapsular Fibrosis and Improves Graft Survival in a Xenotransplanted Animal Model

Pericapsular fibrotic overgrowth (PFO) is a problem that thwarts full implementation of cellular replacement therapies involving encapsulation in an immunoprotective material, such as for the treatment of diabetes. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have inherent anti-inflammatory properties. We postulated that coencapsulation of MSCs with the target cells would reduce PFO. A hepatoinsulinoma cell line (HUH7) was used to model human target cells and...